| | JULY 2024MANAGEHRMAGAZINE.COM19delegation and relying on others to complete a task, it is wise to use our good judgment in assessing their abilities first. In matters of intention and integrity, however, everyone on the team, starting with the leader, needs to strive to be the first to initiate trust with other team members. If You Have Nothing Nice to SayLet's challenge the old saying and take it a step further: If you have nothing nice to say, FIND IT! Allocating time in team meetings for individuals to express appreciation for each other brings people closer together. It creates a sense of belonging and it inspires motivation. It builds camaraderie and paves the way for better collaboration. A structured approach to this routine helps eliminate the risk of excluding anyone. This can be managed by having everyone take turns, going left to right (for example), from one person to the next, in the room or on the screen if meeting virtually. Repeating this activity, week after week, sends a clear message to everyone on the team that they matter and their efforts and contributions are seen. Communication is KeyAchieving synergy within a team demands more than great individual performances. It's not enough to be great at what we do. We need to do great things together. This, we cannot achieve without effective communication. The leader of the team plays a critical role in creating the necessary safe environment for the flow of information and exchange of ideas. They set the tone and the expectations for the team's communication routines and practices. Ultimately, it is up to the team to make it happen. The journey to successful communication begins with three simple but important beliefs: First, people are not mind readers. Therefore, we need to share what we plan to do, how we want to proceed, what we know, what we think and what we need. Second, people don't have equal knowledge of everything. Hence, we need to show trust and lean toward disclosing information. We need to be vulnerable and ask for help. We need to be curious and ask questions. Third, nobody is always right. So, we need to separate ourselves from our thoughts and ideas and not get offended in the face of counter viewpoints.Building a cohesive team and sustaining it at a high-performance level is a long and tedious process that involves the entire team's focus and effort. Building and sustaining a high-performing team is an intricate process. The success of this process is equally dependent on both, having the right mindsets and taking the right actions
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